Thank you for this, Michael. A good overview of the main concerns and ramifications. And the important question, what does it mean to be human? I think I agree with Walter's comment.
Thanks for this very thoughtful piece! I resonated with this line: "While AI may indeed be a line too far, it also serves as a mirror. And like most mirrors, it reflects what already is and sometimes more accurately than we’d like" and much more. Yes - much more accurately than I'd like.
Yet, for now at least, I come to different conclusions. As I think you imply is possible, AI will exaggerate and hasten the ways that we are already "off track" as humans. Personally, I don't see any ways in which it can help us get on track, but maybe my sight is too dim. While prosthetics may technically fit the fringes of transhumanism, the trajectory looks to me more like antihumanism and anti-nature (is there a word for this?). That it is inevitably being controlled and guided by conscienceless billionaires seems to guarantee that soulless trajectory.
It's hard not to think that we're losing our way. We've been doing that, and as you so powerfully point out, AI is helping us do better what we have already been doing.
It is a long post. But your posts are ones I read all the way through and every word. I get so many Substack emails with posts in them every day, usually super long, that I have to use AI to summarize most of the ones I want to digest. But not yours and a few others (e.g. fellow ORT ex-students).
Thank you for this, Michael. A good overview of the main concerns and ramifications. And the important question, what does it mean to be human? I think I agree with Walter's comment.
Thanks, Catherine. :-) Walter has been quite a gift to me over the years - you might enjoy his Substack
I'm already subscribed! :)
Thanks for this very thoughtful piece! I resonated with this line: "While AI may indeed be a line too far, it also serves as a mirror. And like most mirrors, it reflects what already is and sometimes more accurately than we’d like" and much more. Yes - much more accurately than I'd like.
Yet, for now at least, I come to different conclusions. As I think you imply is possible, AI will exaggerate and hasten the ways that we are already "off track" as humans. Personally, I don't see any ways in which it can help us get on track, but maybe my sight is too dim. While prosthetics may technically fit the fringes of transhumanism, the trajectory looks to me more like antihumanism and anti-nature (is there a word for this?). That it is inevitably being controlled and guided by conscienceless billionaires seems to guarantee that soulless trajectory.
Beautiful and deep!
It's hard not to think that we're losing our way. We've been doing that, and as you so powerfully point out, AI is helping us do better what we have already been doing.
Wow! I’m impressed that you made it through … I was rather verbose!
It is a long post. But your posts are ones I read all the way through and every word. I get so many Substack emails with posts in them every day, usually super long, that I have to use AI to summarize most of the ones I want to digest. But not yours and a few others (e.g. fellow ORT ex-students).